Search Results (246)

Mineral elements can either be pollutants or essential dietary components. Monitoring their levels in the environment and living organisms is crucial because excessive amounts can become toxic. Dogs, due to their proximity to humans, shared habitats, and similar organ structures, can be effective indicators of environmental pollution by toxic elements. This study aimed to assess the levels of 11 mineral elements in 80 dog carcasses (49 males and 31 females), aged between 2 and 16 years, from the Ionian-Etnean volcanic region of the province of Catania, where the dogs had died under unknown circumstances. A direct mercury analyzer (DMA-80) was used to measure Hg, and an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) was used for the other elements. A one-way ANOVA, followed by Bonferroni’s multiple comparison for post hoc analysis, was conducted to evaluate significant differences between the organ samples and different minerals and between the weight and metal levels. The statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. The study indicates that high concentrations of metals like cadmium, mercury, lead, and chromium are present in the liver, kidneys, and other organs. These elevated concentrations suggest that the local volcanic emissions contribute to soil, water, and atmospheric contamination. The data showed differences in the metal concentrations between the sexes, which could be attributed to biological and environmental factors. Full article

This case study is the second of three which we have been conducting on different industrial waste landfills. We are planning a fourth study comparing the three landfills. Phytostabilization, including assisted phytostabilization, is a measure of reducing the negative impact of industrial waste landfills on the environment. It is particularly important in the case of old unprotected and often abandoned landfills. Most studies investigate how phytostability depends on the plant species but do not consider its dependence on the specific location at the landfill where the plants are growing. We assumed that the habitat conditions within the landfill had been modified unequally over the years. The most heterogeneous habitat conditions were found on the slopes of the landfill. The aims of the study were to assess the impact of the location on the landfill, i.e., the site of growth; the impact of the plant species or organ; and the combined and simultaneous impact of the location and species/organ on the phytostabilization of cadmium, lead, zinc, and copper. All bioaccumulation factor (BCF) values calculated for each metal and each location (base, middle, and top) differed statistically significantly from one another. In the case of lead, zinc, and copper the highest BCFs, irrespective of species, were obtained for plants growing at the top of the landfill, whereas the highest value for cadmium was recorded at the base. Additionally, all interactions analyzed between location and species/organ were statistically significant. Variations in the BCF values, including the variation influenced by the interaction between location and species/organ, followed four distinct patterns along the slope of the landfill from the base, to the middle, and to the top. Full article

Soil contamination with heavy metals poses a significant risk to human health and ecological systems through multiple exposure pathways: direct ingestion of crops, dermal contact with polluted soil, and bioaccumulation within the food chain. This study analyses eleven composite soils, each collected in triplicate from different sites in Iași County, four of which are designated Natura 2000 protected areas (Mârzești Forest, Plopi Lake—Belcești, Moldova Delta, and Valea lui David). The assessment includes measurements of soil humidity by the gravimetric method, pH, and organic matter content, examined in relation to heavy metal concentrations due to their well-established interdependencies. For heavy metal determination, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) using an EDAX system (AMETEK Inc., Berwyn, PA, USA) and X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRFS) with a Vanta 4 analyser (Olympus, Waltham, MA, USA) were employed. Additionally, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with a Quanta 450 microscope (FEI, Thermo Scientific, Hillsboro, OR, USA) was used primarily for informational purposes and to provide a broader perspective. In the case of chromium, 45.45% of the samples exceeded the permissible levels, with concentrations ranging from 106 mg/kg to 186 mg/kg, the highest value being nearly twice the alert threshold. Notably, not all protected areas maintain contaminant levels within safe limits. The sample from the Mârzești Forest protected site revealed considerably raised concentrations of mercury, arsenic, and lead, exceeding the alert thresholds (1 mg/kg—mercury, 15 mg/kg—arsenic, and 50 mg/kg—lead) established through Order no. 756/1997 issued by the Minister of Water, Forests, and Environmental Protection from Romania. On the other hand, the sample from Podu Iloaiei, an area with intensive agricultural activity, shows contamination with mercury and cadmium, highlighting significant anthropogenic pollution. The findings of this study are expected to raise public awareness regarding soil pollution levels, particularly in densely populated regions and protected ecological zones. Moreover, the results provide a scientific basis for policymakers and relevant authorities to implement targeted measures to manage soil contamination and ensure long-term environmental sustainability. Full article

The aim of this study was to measure the concentrations of As, Cd, Hg, Pb, Cr, Cu, Fe and Zn in the muscle, liver and kidney of wild boar (Sus scrofa) in Papuk Nature Park, Eastern Croatia. Muscles, liver and kidney of 38 wild boars, up to 3 years of age, were collected and the concentrations of elements were determined by ICP-MS. Cadmium exceeded the permitted levels acceptable for human consumption in 50% of kidney samples (max. = 6.64 mg kg⁻¹), 20% of liver samples (max. = 4.60 mg kg⁻¹) and 43% of muscle samples (max. = 0.672 mg kg⁻¹). Lead exceeded acceptable levels in 63% of liver samples (max. = 0.463 mg kg⁻¹), 51% of kidney samples (max. = 11.8 mg kg⁻¹) and 65% of muscle samples (max. = 9.10 mg kg⁻¹). Mercury concentrations in the liver were higher than allowed in 13% (max. = 0.552 mg kg⁻¹) in kidneys in 27% (max. = 0.484 mg kg⁻¹), and in the muscles in 15% (max. = 0.103 mg kg⁻¹) of cases. Arsenic concentrations in muscles exceeded the permissible value in 30% of cases (max. = 0.286 mg kg⁻¹). The concentrations of Cr, Cu, Fe and Zn did not significantly differ from the values reported in other studies. Median concentrations of Cr, Cu, Fe and Zn ranged as follows: muscle (0.193, 2.94, 44.5 and 20.6 mg kg⁻¹), kidney (0.140, 5.32, 110 and 23.3 mg kg⁻¹) and liver (0.130, 3.71, 278 and 36.0 mg kg⁻¹). Full article

Heavy metals (HMs) persist in the environment and enter the human body via various pathways. Once stored in adipose tissue, they can be transferred to breast milk, posing risks to infants. Moreover, maternal diet plays a key role in influencing HM levels in breast milk. The aim of this study was to measure the concentration of HMs, including lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), and arsenic (As), in the breast milk of Korean mothers, assess their potential health risks, and identify maternal dietary factors influencing HM concentration in breast milk. Survey data on maternal–infant pairs and breast milk samples from 209 healthy lactating mothers were collected between January and March 2023. Trained nurses manually expressed the breast milk to prevent external contamination, and maternal dietary intake was systematically assessed using the 24 h recall method. The concentrations of Pb, Cd, Hg, and As were measured, and a risk assessment was conducted using the estimated daily intake hazard quotient. A multiple linear regression model was employed to evaluate the association between the HMs in breast milk and maternal dietary factors. Cd was detected in 99% of the breast milk samples, and high detection rates were observed for Hg (97%), As (89%), and Pb (79%). Arsenic was the largest contributor to the potential health risks of HM-contaminated breast milk. Positive associations were observed between Pb concentration and legume and seaweed consumption, Cd concentration and vegetable and seaweed consumption, Hg concentration and sugar intake, and As concentration and meat intake. This study highlights that maternal dietary intake is closely linked to HM concentrations in breast milk, and elevated As levels potentially pose health risks to infants. These findings underscore the importance of adopting a healthy diet to reduce HM exposure in breast milk and to promote safer breastfeeding practices. Full article

This study analyzed the health risks associated with the consumption of certain vegetables (carrot, onion, tomato, and pepper) grown in soils potentially polluted with metals (Cd, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn) and metalloids (As) from 15 vegetable gardens in the Sasar locality. The research includes measurement of soil and plant metal concentrations, assessment of global pollution of soils with metals using Nemerow pollution index (PI_N), calculation of the metal transfer factor (TF) from soil to vegetable, daily intake of metal dose (DIM) and health risk index (HRI) for both children and adults. The results (mean of 3 replicas ± standard deviation) show that the soil is moderately polluted with lead (28.39 ± 8.623 mg kg⁻¹), nickel (23.17 ± 4.043 mg kg⁻¹), and zinc (123.20 ± 26.918 mg kg⁻¹), strongly polluted with copper (71.68 ± 22.463 mg kg⁻¹), and cadmium (2.63 ± 0.881 mg kg⁻¹). Copper exhibited the highest transfer factors (>0.08), followed by cadmium (~0.06), while zinc and nickel showed moderate values (0.02–0.03). Arsenic and manganese had relatively stable and lower levels, whereas lead displayed the lowest transfer rates (<0.01) across all vegetables. Although the calculated health risk index (HRI < 1) remains below the critical threshold, the findings emphasize the importance of moderate consumption and continuous monitoring of crops in polluted areas. The results can contribute to the integration of sustainable development principles into community policy, protecting the environment and ensuring the sustainable health of consumers. Full article

The urban zone around the city of Volos, a Greek city with a historically industrialized profile, faces threats arising from Potential Toxic Element (PTE) contamination. The scope of this study is to determine the contamination levels of 10 PTEs in three urban areas which are located near the industrial zone in the city of Volos. For this purpose, a total of 30 soil samples from parks, playgrounds and roadsides were collected from the Agios Georgios, Velestino and Rizomilos areas (Magnesia, Central Greece). The sampling was conducted in June 2022 and the concentrations of chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), cobalt (Co) and zinc (Zn) were measured through inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The Contamination Factor (CF), Pollution Load Index (PLI) and Geo-accumulation Index (Igeo) revealed moderate pollution in most cases, whereas in some sites the contamination was significant for Ni or for As. Principal Component Analysis showed concomitant changes for some PTEs in Component 1 and for others in Component 2, explaining approximately 67% of the variation. K-means Cluster Analysis showed two distinct groups of PTE-impacted sites within these urban areas. It can be postulated that industrial activities may have a carry-over effect on the soil in residential areas. Frequent monitoring of areas deemed as “contaminated” and time-series data are needed to examine in depth the soil pollution in cities and its possible shifts in relation to the changes in industrialization status in the extended urban areas. Full article

Elevated levels of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) in the edible parts of rice (Oryza sativa L.) grown in agricultural soils may enter the human body through the food chain, posing significant health risks. In this study, rice and paired rhizosphere soil samples were collected from 194 locations in Jiangsu Province, China, with 60 samples selected for diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) extraction analysis. The findings indicate that total soil concentrations of Cd and Pb are inadequate for assessing cadmium bioavailability, implying that current soil quality standards may not accurately reflect the bioaccessible fractions of these metals. Both DGT and soil solution measurements effectively predicted crop Cd levels, with the effective concentration (C_E) derived from the DGT-induced soil flux (DIFS) model showing the strongest correlation with rice Cd content. Pearson correlation analysis and a random forest (RF) model further identified critical factors influencing rice uptake of Cd and Pb, including soil iron (Fe) content, cation exchange capacity (CEC), pH, and the levels of zinc (Zn) and selenium (Se), which antagonize Cd uptake. Full article

Recently, the only UNESCO river in Nigeria has become polluted, with its color turning dark brown. Osun River serves not only domestic purposes in the city of Osogbo, but also spiritual purposes during the annual Osun Osogbo Festival (OOF). This study examines the physicochemical properties and presence of heavy metals in Osun River, and the air quality at the heritage site before, during, and after the festival. Water samples from Osun River at the UNESCO site were collected before, during, and after the 2024 festival. The water was analyzed at the Department of Environmental Health Sciences of Osun State University, Nigeria, to determine the quantity of heavy metals present in the river. Additionally, an air quality detector was used to assess the quantity of pollutants (CO₂, CO, PM_2.5, PM₁₀, TVOC, and HCHO) in the air before, during, and after the festival. In Osun River, the quantities of arsenic and copper were within the permissible levels set by the World Health Organization (WHO) for drinking water, while those of lead, chromium, and cadmium were far above the safety standards set by the WHO. The pollution rate of the river was in the order of festival day > before the festival > after the festival. The air quality on the festival day was hazardous to human health, as particulate matter (PM_2.5 and PM₁₀) and carbon dioxide were found to be far above the permissible levels set by the WHO. The implications of the findings of this study are discussed, and measures to ensure the future sustainability of this important UNESCO site in the city of Osogbo are recommended. Full article

Worldwide, environmental pollution is a major contributor to illness and mortality, encompassing toxic elements, air pollutants, agricultural pesticides, and contaminated food and water. In patients with end-stage kidney disease, several factors—including impaired renal excretion, the degree of renal impairment, medication use, dialysate contamination, the quality of dialysis water, and metabolic changes—may lead to the accumulation of toxic elements in hemodialysis patients. This study aimed to assess toxic element levels in adults undergoing hemodialysis compared to a control group and to investigate the correlation between parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels, uremic pruritus, anemia and toxic element concentrations. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 60 adult patients undergoing regular hemodialysis for at least three months. Another group of 60 apparently healthy adult voluntaries with matched age and sex with the patient group served as the control. The Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) method was used to measure the concentrations of serum levels of aluminum (Al), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), and arsenic (As) for both groups, as well as in drinking water and dialysate water. The hemodialysis group exhibited significantly higher levels of Al, Pb, Cd, Cr, and As compared to the control group. Serum Pb levels showed a significant negative correlation with PTH, while serum ferritin levels were negatively correlated with Cr. However, no significant correlation was found between toxic element levels and uremic pruritus or anemia. Toxic element concentrations in dialysis and drinking water samples were within acceptable limits and below the detection threshold set by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation/American National Standards Institute (AAMI/ANSI). Therefore, elevated toxic element levels in hemodialysis patients may not be primarily attributable to drinking water or dialysis. Full article

Irrigation water quality is of critical importance for optimum crop yield of economically important field crops in the Kahramanmaraş plains. A preliminary ecotoxicological assessment is necessary before large-scale irrigation. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the quality of irrigation water supplied from different water sources (Karasu, Erkenez, and Oklu streams on the Aksu River and Sır Dam) and the effects on the seed germination and early seedling growth of different field crops (wheat, alfalfa, ryegrass, and maize) irrigated with this water. For this, in order to evaluate the effects on seed germination and early growth parameters of forage crop seedlings, a Petri dish germination test was carried out with four replications using a completely randomized design (CRD). Before the germination assay, heavy metal concentrations including copper (Cu), iron (Fe), lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), arsenic (As), nickel (Ni), and cadmium (Cd) were analyzed in water samples obtained from different water sources. In all water samples used for the experiment, Cu concentrations exceeded the acceptable limit of 0.2 mg L⁻¹. The Cu levels found were 0.98 mg L⁻¹ in Karasu (KC), 1.627 mg L⁻¹ in Oklu (OC), 0.945 mg L⁻¹ in Erkenez (EC), and 1.218 mg L⁻¹ in Sır Dam (SD) waters. Additionally, Fe exceeded the limit only in KC, while Cd surpassed the permissible levels in EC and SD water samples. Seeds exposed to different water treatments were germinated in a climate chamber at 20 ± 1 °C. Over two weeks, daily germination and seedling growth parameters were measured. The results indicated that higher heavy metal concentrations in irrigation water led to a decline in seed germination rates and adversely impacted early seedling growth. Notably, water from Karasu Creek exhibited the most significant negative impact on all germination and growth parameters in the tested crops, especially due to Cu and Fe metal toxicity. Additionally, ryegrass seeds were most affected by these irrigation waters. This study highlights the importance of using uncontaminated quality irrigation water for optimal crop production by quantifying its impact, such as the percentage of decrease in germination or seedling growth. Full article

This study assesses the spatial distribution and contamination levels of some heavy metals (HMs), i.e., cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), and lead (Pb), in seawater and surface sediments along the Romanian Black Sea coast (RBSC). Sampling was conducted at 40 stations across 12 transects during May–June 2021, and the measured levels of HM concentrations were compared with Environmental Quality Standards (EQS), i.e., maximum allowable concentration (MAC) values, for seawater and effects range-low (ERL) thresholds for sediments. HM concentrations were measured using high-resolution continuum source atomic absorption spectrometry (HR-CS AAS). In seawater, the levels of Cd, Cu, and Pb concentrations exceeded the MAC values at three stations located in areas influenced by the Danube River or anthropogenic activities. In sediments, exceedances of ERL thresholds were found for Ni at 11 stations, for Cu at three stations, and for Pb at one station. HM contamination of sediment samples collected from these stations can be caused by both natural and anthropogenic sources, e.g., the Danube River, rock/soil weathering and erosion, agricultural runoff, port and construction activities, maritime and road transport, coastal tourism, petrochemical industry, wastewater discharges, offshore oil and gas extraction. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) provided valuable information about the relationships between relevant variables, including water depth and HM concentrations in seawater and sediments, and potential sources of contamination. The results highlight the influence of fluvial inputs and localized human activities on HM contamination. While the overall chemical status of Romanian Black Sea waters and sediments remains favorable, targeted management strategies are needed to address localized pollution hotspots and mitigate potential ecological risks. These findings provide valuable insights for environmental monitoring and sustainable coastal management. Full article

This paper shows the fabrication of a new environmentally friendly sensor, an activated glassy carbon electrode with an in situ deposited bismuth film (aGCE/BiF), to determine Cd(II) and Pb(II) at the nanotrace level. The electrochemical activation of the GCE surface was achieved in a solution of 0.1 M phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) of pH = 7 by performing five cyclic voltammetric scans in the range of −1.5–2.5 V at ν of 100 mV/s. The newly developed electrode provides several advantages, such as an increased electron active surface (compared to the glassy carbon electrode) and improved electron transfer kinetics. As a result, the new voltammetric procedure (square-wave anodic stripping voltammetry, SWASV) was established and optimized. With the SWASV method, the following calibration curves and low detection limits (LODs) were obtained for Cd(II) and Pb(II), respectively: 5–100 nM, 0.62 nM, 2–200 nM, and 0.18 nM. The newly prepared method was used to determine the amounts of Pb(II) and Cd(II) in the certified reference material, and the results agreed with the certified values. Moreover, the procedure was successfully applied to determine the Cd(II) and Pb(II) in river samples. The official and standard addition methods validated the measurement results. Full article

This study investigated the metabolic adaptive responses to As contamination and As co-contamination with cadmium, lead, and zinc in the leaves and tubers of cherry radish (Raphanus sativus var. sativus Pers.). The response was assessed by measuring malondialdehyde levels, total phenolic content (TPC), total anthocyanin pigment (TAC), growth and stress phytohormone concentration, and free amino acid content. The characteristic As accumulation of single contamination resulted in a decrease in tuber growth. However, in the case of co-contamination, As uptake was influenced by the presence of other potentially toxic elements (PTEs), mainly zinc, with no significant effect on growth. Both contaminated treatments exhibited significant differences in metabolite levels among the organs, along with notable changes in their contents. Increases in malondialdehyde, TPC, and TAC indicated induced oxidative stress and an antioxidant response that was more pronounced by As co-contamination. Also, the results for phytohormones, which showed both increases and decreases, along with selected free amino acids (which showed increases), demonstrated a more significant influence of As co-contamination. Based on these findings, it can be concluded that the response of cherry radish to contaminated treatments exhibited significant differences in the studied parameters, along with variability in the results, reflecting the extent of the effects of PTEs that induce oxidative stress. Full article

Water pollution is a significant problem stemming from several causes, with the contamination of heavy metal(oid)s being a primary concern. This is especially concerning because of the poisonous characteristics of these metal(oid)s and their effects on the aquatic ecosystem. This research is distinguished by its unique methodology for assessing metal(oid)s in the surface water of Bangladeshi rivers over a period of sixteen years, from 2007 to 2022. This work seeks to elucidate recent results on metal(oid) concentrations, contamination levels, multivariate statistical analyses, source identification using positive matrix factorization models, and probabilistic health risks. The findings reveal that the concentrations of chromium, nickel, arsenic, cadmium, and lead exceeded the acceptable limits for drinking water established by the World Health Organization (WHO) by factors of 4.64, 2.25, 22.51, 45.60, and 10.13, respectively. Our meta-analysis, subsequent to a Principal Component Analysis, indicated that increased concentrations of hazardous metals account for 85.47% of the variation from both anthropogenic and natural causes. Ecological risk indicators, including the metal index (84.06) and the Nemerow pollution index (10.55), indicated significant metal contamination. Ecological risk indicators, like the metal index (84.06) and the Nemerow pollution index (10.55), indicate substantial metal contamination. The positive matrix factorization (PMF) model detected the following sources of metals in water: industrial (22%), mixed (32%), agricultural activities (27%), and natural sources (19%). Furthermore, Monte Carlo-simulation-based assessments of health hazards indicated that the mean hazard index (HI) and cancer risk values for adults (301.89 and 422.76) and children (51.56 and 39.45) significantly exceeded the recommended limits, suggesting that both adults and children are vulnerable to potential non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health risks. The immediate execution of control measures and regulations is essential to avert escalating pollution in surface water, protect ecosystems, and mitigate health hazards. Full article